The Issue of Accountability. Part [12] 08/19/2024 (Morning thought)

Exodus 23:20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. 21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.

When we take a closer look at the first passage, we see that it contains two statements that may seem puzzling. Here they are: [1] “Forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” [2] “And that will by no means clear the guilty.” In reality, those who would have their transgression and iniquities and sins forgiven, will first have to be guilty, for wherever one is not guilty pardon is never needed. Therefore, the second statement that says The Lord will not clear the guilty, must be referring to a different kind of guilt.

Question [1] What kind of guilt is it that The Lord will not pardon? Question: [2] What does it mean in the 2nd passage that “He will not pardon your transgressions? Question [3] Why then are those two statements juxtaposed to each other? Answers: The type of guilt that God will not pardon is the guilt incurred by deliberate, persistent sin, by which a person’s choice to do wrong is firmly fixed in the mind, while at the same time, they knowingly refuse all efforts by The Holy Spirit to acknowledge and forsake sin.

The reason why God says He will never pardon that type of transgression and guilt, is because it cannot be pardoned. Pardoning sin must be productive of good at the end of the day, by removing guilt, but if the individual is not interested in change, then it is a waste of time and grace to grant forgiveness.

Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

The Issue of Accountability. Part [11] 08/19/2024 (Evening thought)

Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:

The forbearance that God has exercised toward the wicked has emboldened men in transgression; but their punishment will be none the less certain and terrible for being long delayed. The very fact of His reluctance to execute justice, testifies to the enormity of the sins that call forth His judgments, and to the severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor. All of the inhabitants of earth are soon to meet the great Lawgiver over His broken law.

Thus, there are two passages of Scripture which are to be reconciled in our minds, once and for all, so as to give folks a good, balanced understanding of the issue of accountability. On the one hand, one of the passages highlight God’s mercy and forbearance to us. But on the other hand, it might seem to the cursory reader that He’s promising to do the direct opposite and thus, the correct interpretation of the two must be somewhere down the middle. Let’s observe what is being said and then we will reconcile the passages from the Scriptures.

Exodus 34:6 And the Lord passed by before him and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the 4th generation.

Exodus 34:8 And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!